Macroeconomics (from the Greek prefix makro- meaning “large” + economics) is a branch of economics dealing with the performance, structure, behavior, and decision-making of an economy as a whole. This includes regional, national, and global economies. Macroeconomists study aggregated indicators such as GDP, unemployment rates, national income, price indices, and the interrelations among the different sectors of the economy to better understand how the whole economy functions. They also develop models that explain the relationship between such factors as national income, output, consumption, unemployment, inflation, saving, investment, energy, international trade, and international finance.
While macroeconomics is a broad field of study, there are two areas of research that are emblematic of the discipline: the attempt to understand the causes and consequences of short-run fluctuations in national income (the business cycle), and the attempt to understand the determinants of long-run economic growth (increases in national income). Macroeconomic models and their forecasts are used by governments to assist in the development and evaluation of economic policy.
Macroeconomics and microeconomics, a pair of terms coined by Ragnar Frisch, are the two most general fields in economics.[3] In contrast to macroeconomics, microeconomics is the branch of economics that studies the behavior of individuals and firms in making decisions and the interactions among these individuals and firms in narrowly-defined markets.
International trade is the exchange of capital, goods, and services across international borders or territories.
In most countries, such trade represents a significant share of gross domestic product (GDP). While international trade has existed throughout history (for example Uttarapatha, Silk Road, Amber Road, scramble for Africa, Atlantic slave trade, salt roads), its economic, social, and political importance has been on the rise in recent centuries.
Carrying out trade at an international level is a complex process when compared to domestic trade. When trade takes place between two or more nations factors like currency, government policies, economy, judicial system, laws, and markets influence trade.
To smoothen and justify the process of trade between countries of different economic standing, some international economic organisations were formed, such as the World Trade Organization. These organisations work towards the facilitation and growth of international trade.
International trade or Global trade names of a very import part of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), the economy of a country is based upon this GDP and from which we able to find is the economy is going toward right direction or the economy is falling towards wrong direction. The international trade gives a support to economy and let the economy of country to stand on its foot. The International trade is basically the export and imports of goods and services to international borders on simple words exports and imports of goods and services with other countries.
The international trade can be helpful and can be harmful for the economy but the question is how this international trade can be harmful for a countries economy, basically the international trade is exports and imports of goods are services, when a country’s imports are more than its exports than then international trade become harmful for an economy, it means the country is not making enough for itself and due to this reason the imports are higher than exports. If a country wants to be stronger it needs to work hard to improve its exports and build a strong relationship with its regional countries. A country can enhance its relationship with its regional and neighboring countries by signing free trade agreements with them so that the countries may not find that they are separate part, the example of EU shows that when the countries in region have good relationship than they can become more economically stable , the build strong relationship all the European countries has signed an agreement in which all the member countries can easily fly to member countries and they do not have any trade barrier.
The countries like Pakistan need to work hard on its trade and need to emphasize more or trade not on loan and funds, the country need to develop a good business environment where inverters can join hands with governments and remove this trade barrier which is now present in Pakistan. The government of Pakistan needs to develop more sea ports and dry ports so that the investor may a find place to start a business, and they need to develop more stable political and economical system. The government need to make sure that they are going on right direction because their might not be any turning back.
International trade contributes to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of an economy and it plays an important role in economy, trade have great impact on economy both negative and positive, if a country have more imports than exports it means the country has less GDP and they are is loss, and they country have more exports than imports its shows that country is moving towards positive direction and the economy of the country is under controlled.
The significant of trade is known to every country but some are working hard to improve their trades and some are doing nothing, countries that have good trading system and have strong relationship with their trading partners are more successful and known as the best economies of the world. The countries that are doing nothing for the trade is known as underdeveloped countries, if these countries focus more on international trade and improve their trading system they can compete with develop countries and can improve living standard.
A country trade with other countries so they can get most out of their resources, and export what they have in massive amount and import what they don’t have or what they have is less quantity. The history of trade is very old, and the trade has been the most important part of an economy, there are many international organizations who are working to improve the trading system and these organizations make different trading policies.
History of International Trade
The international trade or world trade was prevalent very long time ago before the formation of nation states and countries. The first known ancient long distance trade was by the Egyptians who imported spices from Arabia and the ‘Land of Punt’ (present day Somalia), than the Ptolemaic dynasty, which ruled in Egypt from 305 BC to 30 BC, traded with India, the Arabian vessels were used to transport Indian goods to Aden, and the Chinese goods made their way to India, Persia and Rome through the silk route. (n/a, n/d)
The first international trading company was established by Elizabeth I on 31 December 1600 and the company was known as the East India Trading Company (EITC), in the eighteenth century, industrialization and colonization went hand in hand. The European nations increased their political power through trade. They exploited trading opportunities in eastern countries like India, China and other countries. The foreign trade got its impetus in eighteenth and early nineteenth century this was the age when international trade developed in massive amount and trading ports were developed in many parts of world especially China, India and European countries. Rapid development in transportation facilities resulted in a surge in international trade in the twentieth century. Today, international trade has taken the form of outsourcing and multinational companies; multinational companies are those companies which are working in multiple counties. (n/a, n/d)
Present Global Trade Scenario
In Past the international trade was very low but in twentieth century this international trade made a dramatic turn and rise big volume. In 1928 the International trade was just UD$31.7 billion, in 1994 this figure rise to US$4,215,000 billion which is 100 times more than 1928 and still the international trade is rising. Studies conducted by the UNCTAD in 1994 show that trade in commercial services rose much faster than merchandise trade between 1970 and 1990. (n/a, n/d)
The G-7 group, comprising of the US, France, Germany, the UK, Italy, Japan and Canada, has always commanded a dominant position in world trade. Gradually the significance of certain Asia Pacific nations, such as China, Singapore, India, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Korea, has risen. (n/a, n/d)
About WTO
WTO is very important part of international trade this is the organization which monitor all the trade policies and keep the trade alive, it is WTO which made the trade between countries easy and clear before this organization trading was a difficult task and countries have to follow different kind of rules which were not acceptable of many countries. The World trade organization formally known as General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), this organization was introduced after the World War II in 1948. WTO replaced GATT in 1st January 1995 under the Marrakech Agreement. The organization deals with trade issues, in start this organization was introduces so that the trade barrier between countries can be removed and new trading system may introduced, in which all countries can participate equally and no country may not find difficulty in trade. WTO has very clear trading policies and currently 153 countries are member of this organization which represents total of 98% trade of world, every two year WTO call up meeting of its member countries so that they can discuss the problem and may find the solutions to those problems. It is most powerful body for the controlling of dynamics of global trade; WTO is helping those countries which have problem with neighboring countries and it is helping them by formulating new trade agreements and policies.(n/a, n/d)
Role of WTO
The World Trade Organization is driven by its member countries, and each member country play its role in WTO, the role of WTO Is very simple, the organization formulate trading policies for its member countries and negotiate w ith member countries if any kind of problem arises among the member countries, the organization have very clear trading policy which is keep the trade alive and remove all type of trade barriers among member countries, currently this organization is working under United Nations and follows UN’s policies. WTO develop agreements with governments to make their trade policies transparent and it also ensure that trade flows are clear and smooth, the organization make sure the decisions which they are taking are not harmful for any country and the decisions may not create any kind of disputes. WTO have velar transparent system in which all the member countries got equal rights and if any country is not agreeing on any issue it also formulate committees which handle that problem and make sure that all countries are agreed and no member have problem. Each in two year WTO sit together in Geneva and Doha round conference and discuss problems and ensure that everything is controlled, WTO also monitor the Fridge rates by the different countries and keep an eye on trade polices of all the member countries before WTO all the countries has different fridge rates and when the goods reaches to its end point the price of product become very high and some countries do not allow to travel through there sea’s but now there is no such kind of problem and trading is a very easy task and everyone can trade. WTO is a very important part of International trade due to this reason the organization work very hard to keep trade smooth and alive.(n/a, n/d)
MISSION STATEMENT OF WTO:
The World Trade Organization (WTO) is the international organization whose primary purpose is to open trade for the benefit of all. (n/a, n/d) [3]
How is WTO important for least developed countries (Underdeveloped Countries)?
WTO have total of 153 member countries and 35 countries are least developed countries, least develop countries are those countries who are suffering from economical challenges and are not economically stable. WTO know the policies which can implement of developed countries are not applicable on LDC’s dude to this reason WTO has special policies from these countries so that they can have more trade and become more economical stable. WTO is also working with IMF; IMF is the International Monitory Funds which working with WTO on many levels, the main aim of IMF and WTO is ensure great coherence in global economic policymaking and both organization are helping LDC’s so that countries which are suffering from economical problems may recover soon and bring benefit to nation. IMF give funds to LDC’s and also help them in building new economical and trade policies. A cooperation agreement between WTO and IMF has signed after the creation of WTO which covers various aspects of their relationship and most important agreement was helping the LDC’s and making sure that all the member countries are economical stable and when ever any member country needed help both organization will help that country.( Kwa, 1998)[4]
Type of Trade
There are two basic types of trade one is International trade and other is Demotic trade, The trade itself have very old history, People start trading very long time ago when people use exchange the goods which they have in large amount and get what they don’t have or what they need the most. The trade is basic economic concept that includes multiple bodies which participate and negotiate and exchange goods and services. Now money is medium for the trade and people trade goods and services for money, the money which they earn from trade they can use it and can purchase what they want for them. (n/a, n/d)[3]
International Trade
International trade is the exchange of goods and services among multiple countries, a nations trade with other nations and get what it need more and give what they have is large amount. The international trade is very important part of an economy many of nations are based upon trade and these countries are known as developed countries and developing countries. Due to international trade the countries are interlinked with each other and the economical situations are depended upon each other. For example, dude some political changes in Pakistan which could result in an increase in the cost of labor and products that produced in Pakistan, thereby increasing the manufacturing costs and increase in cost of goods and the exports will become more expensive and the importer countries need to pay more for the same product for which they use to pay less amount and when prices are change it will show a great impact on those countries. (heakal,2007)
Trading Internationally gives a consumers and countries the opportunity to be exposed to goods and services which are not available in their own countries, and it give them an opportunity to export those product which they produce in massive amount and in which they are experts, when they will export that product they will get more price than usual price which they use to get in their country. Due to this international trade we can get anything what we want for our selves, and now people are also trading the services for example Bahrain is providing banking system in which they allow people from all around the invest and giving them big amount of interests. This is all because of international trade. Now we have Multinational Companies working in multiple countries we do not have any problem we can get what is product of USA in Pakistan in very Affordable. (heakal,2007)
The International Trade changed today’s world now we can get anything from any country and now nations are stronger than ever, the country which using its resources more effectively is more successful, we can take example of china and India they are now known as trading countries, they are trading their expertise and goods to other countries and these countries are known as biggest markets of the world. All the trading countries want to invest in these countries because they know they can get more profit. China has covered more than 60% of worlds market and they are known as biggest exporters of this world. (heakal,2007)
Domestic Trade
Domestic Trade is exchange of goods within the borders of country, the domestic trade more cheap than international trade, international trade is more expensive than domestic trade because in international trade the shipping cost and tariff rates by different countries are included and it is more time consuming than domestic trade. Domestic trade is very import for the economy, if some goods are available in any part of country in large amount and the other part of country need that product it can also bring benefit to country, the domestic trade introduce cash flow in country and people are encourage to produce more goods. Many countries give more preference to domestic trade because domestic trade has no bad impact of countries economy and it also strong the countries economical system. (heakal,2007)
Bilateral Trade Agreement
Bilateral Trade Agreement is an agreement which is signed between two nations, on in other words when two countries are agreed on any trading policy and they agree to import and export goods without any involvement any other country is known as Bilateral Trade. They are fairly easy to negotiate, and give those two nations favored trading status between each other.
We can take example from previous Pakistan and China Bilateral Trade Agreement which took place last Saturday on 18th December in which both countries agreed to trade 22 kinds of product worth of US$17 billion. Other example of Pakistan and Iran Gas pipe line both countries signed agreement that Iran will supply gas to Pakistan. (Smith, Summer, Rossan,2009)
Multilateral Trade Agreement
A multilateral Trade Agreement is an agreement which is signed between more than two counties at once and all the countries agree upon that agreement this agreement is very powerful agreement once all the countries sign the agreements, this benefit of this multilateral trade agreement is all the countries are treated equally and all the countries plays its important role in it. (Smith, Summer, Rossan,2009)
The biggest multilateral trade agreement was passed by 149 countries in DOHA 2007 in which all the countries sign the agreement, The latest agreement by India, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iran was another example of Multilateral Trade Agreement in this agreement all the countries agreed to produce Electricity from Gas and trade it to the other export it to Afghanistan. (Time, 2009)
Free Trade Agreement
In Free Trade Agreement countries are agreed to export and import goods and services without any tariff rate and no quota system is implementing on it, most of Free trade agreement is signed between neighboring countries and in regions. This trade agreement is now a day is very successful and is giving benefits to many economies. (n/a, n/d)
The Latest Free Trade Agreement was signed by USA and South-Korea in this agreement both countries has removed all the trade barriers and now the citizen of USA and SK can travel easily without any restriction and can easily trade. Before this agreement the most successful FTA is signed by European-Union (EU) in which all the European countries were agreed to implement a single currency in all over the Europe which clearly increased the trade and it also removed many threads to trade. (n/a, n/d)